Russia and India discuss Afghanistan in Moscow

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar discussed the situation in Afghanistan in Moscow. The talks also covered several other regional and international issues.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Jaishankar travelled to Moscow on Monday, 2 September, to take part in a meeting of the Russia-India intergovernmental commission. In addition to Afghanistan, the two sides also discussed Iran and Ukraine, the ministry said in a statement.

The statement added that the two foreign ministers also exchanged views on joint cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, BRICS and the Group of 20. No further details were released about the focus of the talks on Afghanistan.

Although Russia is the only country to have recognised the Taliban administration, it continues to express concern about drug trafficking, the activity of terrorist groups and the presence of Islamic State in Afghanistan. India has also increased its diplomatic contacts and engagement with the Taliban-led administration since its return to power.

Russia and India are both considered major regional actors on Afghanistan, and their positions and talks on the country’s situation carry wide weight in regional diplomatic developments.